Suicidality: Risk Factors and the Effects of Antidepressants. The Example of Parallel Reduction of Suicidality and Other Depressive Symptoms During Treatment with the SNRI, Milnacipran

A recent study has determined the effects of 6 weeks of antidepressant treatment with the serotonin & norepinephrin reuptake inhibitor, milnacipran, on suicidality in a cohort of 30 Russian patients with mild to modertate depression. At baseline, mild suicidal thoughts were present in 46.7% of patients. Suicidal thoughts decreased progressively throughout the study in parallel with other depressive symptoms & were essentially absent by the end of study. At no time during treatment was there any indication of an increased suicide risk. Retardation & psychic anxiety decreased in parallel possibly explaining the lack of any activation syndrome in this study. (41 refs.) JA